Bareback and naked
1472 Words
*Blaise*
I dearly want to kill the little men who are building a town inside my head. Their constant pounding reverberates between my temples.
I force myself to sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed. The pounding grows louder, and I realize a good deal of it isn’t in my head at all.
“Breakfast is ready!”
I groan at Chase’s booming voice.
“I’m coming,” I mumble. I bow my head and hope to the Goddess Chase has let Callista sleep late. I don’t know how in the world I’m going to be able to look her in the eyes.
I shove myself to my feet, wash up as quickly as I can, change into a clean shirt, and head down to breakfast.
Chase and Callista are already sitting across from each other, Chase chewing his food, Callista scraping the eggs from one side of her plate to the other. I take the chair between them.
“You look like hell,” Chase says.
“I feel like hell.” I admit.
Chase shoves a plate of fried eggs toward me. The yellow yolks quiver, and my stomach roils.
“Get something into your belly,” Chase orders.
I reach for the coffeepot and pour the steaming black brew into my cup. “I just want coffee.”
I plant my elbow on the table and set my chin on my palm to keep my face from falling to the table.
“‘Preciate you hauling me to bed last night,” I say.
“Couldn’t very well leave you in the back of Wade’s wagon.” Chase says.
I remember thinking how comfortable Maggie looked curled up in the wagon, and I had climbed in beside her. My mouth feels as though I have swallowed the cat’s tail.
“What time you gonna pull your fence back?” I ask.
“I have already pulled it back.” He informs me.
Grimacing at the censure in my brother’s voice, I force myself to meet Chase’s gaze. “Reckon I should have been there.”
“Reckon you should have been, but it’s done now. You planning to go into town today?” He asks.
“I don’t think I could sit in a saddle for more than five minutes without puking.” I admit.
Chase shakes his head. “What in the hell were you and Riley thinking?”
“We were trying not to think.” I mumble.
Chase leans back in his chair. “I’m going to work on my books for a while, and then I need to check on the herd. Will you be able to take care of my mate if she needs anything?”
I glance quickly at Callista and nod.
“Good.” Chase scrapes his chair back and picks up his plate.
“I’ll clean that for you,” Callista says softly.
I have never seen Chase look as though he doesn’t know what to do, but he sure looks hesitant now. We aren’t accustomed to having a she-wolf around to see after our needs.
“I don’t mind cleaning up after the meals,” Callista says.
Chase sets the plate on the table. “Fine, then. I appreciate the gesture.”
He strides from the room, and I wish I could have left with him, but I know too many things remain unsaid between me and Callista, and living in the same house will be hell until everything is settled.
I take a long drag on my coffee, hoping to clear my head. Then I lean toward her. “Do you mind if I call you Callie? I know Riley does.”
She glances up, then back down. “That’s fine.”
“No, it ain’t fine, and we both know why.” I put my hand over hers, and she snaps her gaze up to mine. I give her a sad smile. “You heard something last night that you were never supposed to hear.”
She lowers her gaze. “It doesn’t matter.”
I squeeze her hand until she looks at me again. “It does matter. When men get drunk, they say things they shouldn’t. I won’t deny that Chase wants a son... bad. But I also know he will treat you right, the way a man ought to treat his mate.”
“Riley told you I didn’t have a nose?” She asks.
I grimace. “Yeah, I don’t know why he did that.”
“And you told Chase.” She mumbles.
I sigh. “Yep, and I don’t know why I did that.”
“And he still married me. He must be desperate indeed.” She says.
I take her hand between both of mine. “You have to understand our family. You’ve seen Wade. Men don’t come much more scarred than he is. Briony fell in love with him. After seeing that, I reckon we just don’t put much stock in looks.”
*Chase*
“What in the Goddess’ name did you think you were doing this morning?”
I glance up from the spittle that just landed on my desk and meet Arly Windscar’s fiery gaze.
"Moving my fence back." I say.
"With my daughter on a horse, on a rise where she could have easily fallen and been killed. I told you she was delicate." He growls.
I breathe in slowly. "Your daughter sits on a horse well, Windscar. The horse is gentle enough that my three-year-old niece rides her. Your daughter was safe."
"So you say. You’ve got to protect her!" He huffs.
"I will protect her, but I will do it my way." I tell him.
Arly drops into the chair. His sons continue to stand, their arms crossed, although I think Riley looks as though he might bring up his latest meal at any moment, a thought I don’t find particularly reassuring.
"You just don’t understand," Arly says. "She-wolves can’t protect themselves. You’ve got to keep them close or they will harm themselves, just as my dear mate did."
I rub my brow, trying to ease my headache. I had wanted an end to the strife, and I have only managed to reshape it. "Look, Windscar, she’s my mate now. I will take care of her."
"It’s not easy to hand your daughter over to another man’s keeping." He says.
"Seemed easy enough yesterday. You couldn’t even bother to drag yourself over here to be with her when the very devil himself took her as his mate." I point out.
Windscar narrows his eyes. "I wasn’t feeling well…"
"My guess is you had spent the night before drowning your guilt, and a hangover kept you at home." When the man starts to rise from his chair, I hold up a hand. "I don’t want to hear it, Windscar. Your excuses, your worries, your concerns. I don’t give a damn about any of them. You want to visit with your daughter, fine. Visit with her. But don’t lecture me on how to care for her. You gave that right up when you traded her for my water. She can ride bareback, buck naked across the plains if that makes her happy."
I’m certain the man is going to keel over from heart failure, his face turns so red, his mouth works, but no words spew forth.
I stand. "I’ll let her know you’re here."
I walk from the room and up the stairs. Blaise had told me Callista had retired to her room after they had finished breakfast. I have a feeling I haven’t accomplished all I had planned to this morning. She is still too wary of me.
I knock lightly on her door. I hear her quiet footsteps on the other side. She opens the door and peeks out as though she expects to find a monster on the other side.
"Your family is in my office. They would like to visit with you... if you want to see them." I tell her.
She nods. "Yes, I would like to see them."
"I need to check on my herd. I won’t be back until after dark. Blaise will be here if you need anything." I say.
"Thank you," she says softly.
Not exactly what I want to hear. Be careful. Hurry back. I’ll wait up for you. Any of those would have pleased me.
I slap my gloves against my palm. She flinches.
Not caring much for the sting in my chest that her reaction causes, I turn to leave, stop, and glance over my shoulder. "Do you want me to stay while you visit with them?"
"No. I prefer to see them alone."
I head down the stairs, knowing I haven’t accomplished a damn thing this morning.
- Writer
